Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: With vinegar and baking soda
• Method 2 of 3: With dish soap, baking soda and a hydrogen peroxide solution
• Method 3 of 3: With an enzyme cleaner
• Tips
• Warnings

Whether it was the wet spot or the smell that suddenly caught your eye, you're likely to worry that that urine stain will never go out completely. Fortunately, you can easily remove both the stain and the odor from a chair or sofa with the help of a few basic ingredients you probably already have around the house. To remove fresh urine, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda (soda). If the urine has already dried or been absorbed deep into the fabric, try a combination of dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. If a cat, dog, or other animal soiled your sofa - or if your sofa is covered with microfiber - it is best to use an enzyme cleaner. This not only prevents your pet from urinating in the same place again, but it also evaporates quickly and gives less chance of staining the microfibre.

To step

Method 1 of 3: With vinegar and baking soda

1. Blot the stain with a paper towel or tissue. Do not rub the area as this will spread it further into the fabric. Keep dabbing the wet area with the paper until it is mostly dry and use another new piece of paper if necessary.
   • Act fast! Make sure the urine is not left on the couch for too long or it will be more difficult to get rid of it.
2. Clean the area with a mixture of vinegar and water. Put 1 part distilled white vinegar and 4 parts water in a spray bottle or container. Soak the fabric with the solution to remove the stain and odor.
   • The vinegar / water solution neutralizes the ammonia in the urine, breaking down the odor. Also, the stain is rewetted so that it is completely removed from the sofa.
   • Do not use this solution on microfibre as it will stain. Instead, use rubbing alcohol as it dries quickly and doesn't leave water marks.
3. Scrub the stain with a sponge. Use an (old) sponge that it is not a shame to throw away afterwards. Scrub vigorously from the center of the stain to the edges to get all the urine out of the fibers of the sofa fabric so that no odor or stain is left in it.
   • If your stain smells really bad, using 100% vinegar will neutralize the smell.
4. Sprinkle baking soda on the fabric while it is still wet. Use enough baking soda to completely cover the wet area. About 150 grams should be enough.
   • Optionally, you can add 10 drops of the essential oil to the baking soda before applying it to leave a pleasant scent on the fabric.
5. Let the baking soda sit overnight. It's best to let the baking soda sit for at least 12 hours to make sure the fabric underneath has dried properly.
   • If you are in a hurry, you can wait 4-6 hours before checking the area is dry.
6. Remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner. Once your couch upholstery is completely dry, run a vacuum cleaner over the area to remove the baking soda. The stain and odor should now be gone!

Method 2 of 3: With dish soap, baking soda and a hydrogen peroxide solution

1. Blot the stain with a dishcloth to absorb the urine. Don't push too hard or you will spread the urine further into the couch. Just as you would with a spilled liquid, simply press the dishcloth onto the wet area to absorb the liquid.
   • If you happen to have a wet / dry vacuum handy, that would work well with a fresh urine stain too.
2. Mix dish soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together. Put 2-3 drops of dish soap, 42 grams of baking soda, and 300 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Screw the cap on and shake to allow the ingredients to mix well.
   • Hydrogen peroxide disinfects the coating and breaks down the acid in the urine, making the stain easier to remove.
   • If you don't have hydrogen peroxide, you can also use vinegar.
3. Spray the mixture on the stain and let it soak for an hour. Make sure all areas of the stain are completely covered. Don't dab it right away - give it some time to settle in first!
   • If your sofa is covered with microfibre, opt for an enzyme cleaner.
4. Wipe off the detergent residue with a damp cloth. Gently wipe the stain with a damp cloth to get the detergent out, then pat it dry with a clean, dry cloth. It will probably take a few hours for the stain to dry, but after that, your sofa will be as good as new again.

Method 3 of 3: With an enzyme cleaner

1. Buy an enzyme cleaner suitable for use on fabric upholstery. Go to a department store, DIY store, or pet store and look for an enzyme cleaner among the cleaning products. Make sure that the product is suitable for use on the fabric that covers your sofa.
   • Your best bet is to buy a high-quality enzyme cleaner. Although it may be a bit more expensive, it works better and is economical in use because you don't have to apply it again.
2. Press an old tea towel onto the stain to soak up excess urine. Use a tea towel that you can throw away afterwards or one that you want to wash but no longer use for the dishes. Gently pat the stain to remove the urine. Do not rub the stain to prevent urine from being pushed deeper into the fabric.
3. Saturate the stain with enzyme cleaner. It's not enough to sprinkle the stain, you have to soak it thoroughly. Make sure to thoroughly wet the entire area, including the edges and any stray drops.
4. Let the detergent sit for 15 minutes. Allow the product to penetrate well into the fabric and filling and so that the uric acid in the urine can be broken down.
5. Blot up the moisture. Press an old, but clean rag onto the fabric to soak up as much of the enzyme cleaner and urine as possible. Repeat this until no more moisture gets into the cloth.
   • You may need several patches if the area is large.
6. Allow the treated area to air dry completely. There is no need to rinse it. When the cleaner evaporates, the uric acid evaporates, which is broken down into ammonia and carbon dioxide.
   • To prevent your pets or family members from sitting on the wet area, you can cover it with aluminum foil or a towel.

Tips

• Test the product you plan to use on an inconspicuous area on the fabric. If you notice any discoloration or damage, try a different method.
• If your sofa has vintage upholstery, it is best to contact a professional cleaning service to prevent damage to the fabric.
• You can also sprinkle table salt over a fresh stain to draw out the moisture. Let it sit for a few hours before cleaning it with your chosen cleaning agent.

Warnings

• Avoid using bleach to remove cat urine, as the ammonia in the urine combined with bleach can create a toxic gas.